The last time Tottenham were relegated from the top division in England was in 1977, before the creation of the Premier League. – After two seasons on the edge of the cliff, with just one point above relegation, everything had to be turned around. Roberto De Zerbi was brought in as the new manager, at the same time as they are approaching £300 million in player purchases.
Saturday’s loss in the Premier League opening 3 – 0 against Brentford was not only because Brentford played well, the Tottenham players were already tired and unmotivated. No burning commitment to the club or even his own career.
You don’t survive in the Premier League with unmotivated players
Read on English clubs: De Zerbi out against Tottenham players: “Weren’t ready to fight”
There are 37 games left in the Premier League season, but unless something drastic happens, Tottenham will be the team everyone can beat.
Tottenham’s billion-dollar project collapses – again: “They lack leaders”
Tottenham should be ready for the gold medal match. Instead, they were humiliated by Brentford. Now the English experts are raging: “Where will creativity come from?” And how can a 20-year-old be captain of a team that has spent billions?
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Tottenham went into the season with big ambitions. After several years of fluctuating results and disgruntled supporters, the club decided to invest heavily in the transfer market. The summer of 2026 was marked by record-breaking acts: Conor Gallagher, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes were brought in for a combined £200 million. Sporting director Johan Lange and manager Roberto de Zerbi promised a new offensive identity – and the fans finally believed that the gold hunger was back.
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Then Brentford came away after things looked promising in the summer pre-season. And everything unraveled.
Brentford 3-0 Tottenham: A slow-motion slump
From the first minute, Tottenham looked like a team without a backbone. Brentford, led by the fearless Mathias Jensen and record signing Mamadou Sangaré, rolled over Spurs with an energy and discipline that was completely lacking in the visitors.
The home side won the duels, controlled the midfield and exploited every single Tottenham weakness. 3-0 wasn’t luck – it was a football lesson.
Despite Gallagher, Tonali and Fernandes together for the first time (Fernandes entering the second half), they looked like strangers on the pitch. No automatism, no security, no management.
The experts: “They didn’t win any duels”
“You have to say that this was a team of strangers. They had no understanding of each other, and in defence, there was no partnership between Van Hecke and Senesi. They didn’t win any duels, and I didn’t like the team when I saw the starting line-up. Gallagher at number 10? Where should creativity come from? The hope for Tottenham is that this won’t be the same team in six weeks’ time. There were a lot of disappointing factors, and they need to get a lot better at all the basic skills to win games,” Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports.
Rooney: “Having a 20-year-old as captain says it all”
In the BBC’s “Match of the Day”, the tone was even harsher. Both Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney dug into the wound:
“It shows that there is a lack of leaders in the squad when a 20-year-old is going to be captain. That says everything about the fact that there are not many leadership types in that group. Someone has to show up and take responsibility – otherwise they will continue to struggle with the same thing over and over again,” Rooney said, clearly disheartened by the choice of 20-year-old Archie Gray as captain.
What now?
Tottenham are expected to sign again this week – Manchester City’s Savinho and Omar Marmoush are on their way in. But the question the supporters are asking is the same as always: Does it help with more new faces when no one takes the lead on the pitch or in the boardroom?
And with tough games against Liverpool and Arsenal just around the corner, autumn may already be about to unravel – before it has even begun.
One thing is certain: Money alone does not buy unity, authority or respect. And right now, Tottenham are missing all the parts.
It’s hard to predict relegation for Tottenham, but no one believed in two 17th places in a row either. – Before the weekend, experts talked about a top 6th position with games in Europe, now the same, normally confident comments seem to be uncertain.
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